Psychologist Hawkes Bay at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Hawkes Bay (Te Matau a Maui)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

‘Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' – ‘There is only one purpose to our work:  the wellness and wellbeing of our people.'

The Hastings Psychologist Office is a stand alone office in a rural setting close to Hawkes Bay Regional Prison.  It is a place you can bring your passion and commitment to changing lives to Hawkes Bay where we are making Ara Poutama Aotearoa's Hōkai Rangi vision a reality.   Through the Hōkai Rangi strategy and the Hōkai Nuku change programme we are endeavouring to deliver better outcomes for the people in our management.  Hawkes Bay is one of the regions that has been selected to introduce the Maori Pathway where there is an emphasis on using kaupapa Maori and whanau centred approaches to practice. These approaches are aligned to Hōkai Rangi and cover the time from arrest through to supporting people on their arrival into prison; tailored programmes and practice, training, tools and education while in prison; and reintegration back into the community. 

The Hastings Psychologists Office provides services to the prison which has circa 800 people in our management. This prison has two units with a significant Tikanga Maori focus, one high security, one low security. The prison also has one of the two Youth units in the country and has a Drug Treatment Unit. Our service to the prison includes higher level reports to the Parole Board and occasionally the Court. The bulk of work on this site is prison assessment and treatment and this office places significant emphasis on psychological intervention with people in our management. 

We also provide service to five Community Corrections sites, namely Hastings, Napier, Flaxmere, Wairoa and Gisborne. Typically work in these sites is the assessment and treatment of clients, again with an emphasis on treatment. We also provide a strong consultative role in Community Corrections sites supporting our probation colleagues in the management of high risk offenders. 

In general, our work is on a one to one basis although occasionally we have run groups in a community setting for youth and women working alongside programme facilitators.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is reliable with strong communication skills
• Has a minimum of a Masters degree in Psychology and registration with the NZ Psychologist Board
• Is able to demonstrate and commit to culturally responsive ways of working
• Is an excellent problem solver with strong communication skills
• Works well in a collaborative professional environment
• Can demonstrate an understanding of Te Ao Māori/Tikanga Māori and bi-cultural practice
• Has commitment to contributing to the outcomes of Hōkai Rangi
• Wants to begin or progress their career in a development focused service.
• Has a minimum of a Masters degree in Psychology (Clinical or Forensic Psychology and registration with the NZ Psychologist Board in the clinical/counselling and general scope of practice)

In return we can offer you:

• A connection within a vibrant supportive team culture
• A competitive salary and structured advancement opportunities
• Commitment to professional development and clinical supervision
• World class criminal justice psychology training and mentoring
• Flexible working conditions

Please note that applicants must hold registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board and will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check and pre-employment drug tests.

Kano ārai mate KOWHEORI-19 | COVID-19 vaccinations 

As part of the COVID-19 response, health workers regulated by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act are required to be vaccinated and boosted. This includes doctors, nurses and psychologists .

Staff not regulated by the HPCA do not currently need to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The full range (85%-120%) is $81,049 - $125,485. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu. 

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/strategy).

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values. 

It is an exciting time to join us and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau. Applications close August 21. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.